AIBU to wish people would mind their own business

[MOISTOWLETT]

I'm going to be frank here. I have tattoos, I love them, it does NOT give people the right to tell me that they're awful/I'm going to hell/they'll look bad when I'm older. I'm an adult, they're my choice, I don't care what people think about them as they all have personal meaning behind them, I don't believe in heaven and hell or god and I'll deal with the getting old when I'm old!!! I'm sorry for the rant I'm just pissed off!

How does having a tattoo show you've 'lived'?!

Yes, I rolled my eyes at that too. Ergo, people like me who've got to the grand old age of 50 without ever having had a tattoo are clearly to be pitied as we've obviously had no life.

What if you regret it in the future is a common question. So, should I not do something at the age of 20 or 30 just because in 40 years time I might regret it? I might actually not regret it and I might enjoy having the tattoo for all those years.
What will it look like when you're 80? Will I really care? I'll just be happy if I make it to 80! If I do, I doubt I'll be wearing the sort of clothes that would show off my tattoos. And if I do, I doubt I'll really care what anyone thinks of me!
Each to their own. I usually find that those who are tattooed don't tend to judge those who are untattooed.

I am not a fan tbh, but would never comment on peoples tats.

Also, I do think that people stand out from the crowd more, and look more unique these days, if they don't have them.

I don't have tattoos. I read the 'it shows I've lived' comment as 'it shows I've done what I want to do with my life' as in - lived an independent life, not going by other people's judgements.

Read in that way my lack of tattoos also shows I've lived because that's a choice I've made for myself.

I can't stand them. They look dirty, common, aggressive and make me think the worst of people with them.
I know that's my conscious bias. I know some lovely people with them.
I accept it's absolutely up to individuals but I'm less likely to employ someone with visible tattoos and hope my children maintain their tattoo free bodies.

I love looking at really well done tatts they are real works of art.

I've never seen a well done tattoo.

Care to show me some good ones?

picklemepopcorn

I've nothing against tattoos but I do think they spoil many a nice outfit. I get unreasonably irritated by half a tattoo peeking out of a short skirt, sleeve or bodice line. Whole tattoo, no problem. No tattoo, no problem. Slightly random sticking out piece of tattoo spoiling the line of a carefully designed outfit... Tut.

This

I don't think it's necessary to insult every tattoo wearer. They are so common (as in "everywhere"), I wouldn't even be surprised to see the Duchess of Cambridge with one, people from all walks of life have tattoos. Who cares, your body, your choice.

Some tattoo artists truly deserve the title "artist". Look at this one, you might hate it, but how can you deny the craftsmanship behind:

THat phoenix is interesting ( if slightly creepy)

It's not particularly well executed- the dark colours are colours are very harsh against the pale skin , the and the party piece of raising the shoulders is a one trick pony. I mean how often is that woman going to sit like that doing the freaky shoulder stuff to make the puppet work?

More often it will be seen with bra straps, t shirt straps, and will just look an indiscernible tatty fugly mess .

There's a tattoo parlour on our Main Street and the sign for laser tattoo removal is as big as the tattoo and piercing sign.

The clearly do plenty business from people who do regret it!

I do like the colours of the Phoenix.

You don't have to like tattoos, I just find it a bit childish to pretend that they are all hideous and badly done. There are countless examples of tattoo art online, showing that people have talent and imagination.

I have a small symbol, one for of each of my children (think of something like a star), and one for each my babies who were not born. I couldn't care less if they are your taste or not, I just fail to see how someone could see them as "aggressive".

If I only have to worry about the look of my tattoos when I am 80, I will consider myself lucky.

You don't have to like tattoos, I just find it a bit childish to pretend that they are all hideous and badly done

This. It's like people insisting graffiti can never be art.

Just because something isn't conventionally 'highbrow' doesn't mean it's thuggish or violent.

Batteriesallgone

I totally get the graffiti analogy, because that is how I view tattoos.

Tattoos are one where the demographics will carry it. I work it a very high achieving, academic super star, professional organisation, albeit not in the more traditional legal or banking worlds. Tonnes of our grads have tats, which you generally only spot occasionally on dress down Friday when someone has a t shirt on, etc. No one cares. The class / education / whatever associations they may have had even 15 years ago just aren't there.

I don't have any tattoos but I do have a lot of scars. Mostly self-harm (fairly obviously so) but some from violence against me.

In my experience, the people that are snooty about tattoos also look down on those of us that are scarred, have piercings, or are physically 'other' in some fairly obvious way. It strikes me as as insecurity seeking to find a way to distinguish itself as 'better' than the damaged...the yobs.

Doubtless lots of people will jump on me now and say oooh it's not the same but I can only speak for my personal experiences.

I am personally very grateful for those who choose to tattoo themselves and join the group of people who are permanently altered. Whether knowingly or not, they have made my experience in society easier, and shitty attitudes more likely to be challenged. Which I'm very, very grateful for, as my experiences are mostly too painful/personal to feel able to robustly defend my appearance.

batteries that's terribly sad.
I am familiar with people judging tattoos negatively, (it's hardly news) but looking down at you because of scars... I guess people are scared, and find it easier to be negative than to get involved. I don't know.

I hope you are ok now.

I think it's hilarious when people say what will that look like when you're 80?! I like to remind them that we're all gonna look pretty shite at 80 anyway!

Algebraic

Speak for yourself!
www.boredpanda.com/tattooed-elderly-people/

But I agree, I doubt that my tattoos will be the reason to keep me out of bikinis when I am 80!

Skerry
5 minute search examples of 3 different 'types'

A good tattoo artist can do anything with a tattoo gun annother artist can do with a pencil, pen or paintbrush.

That's all mediocre commercial artwork. Nothing beautiful or unique. The woman with the tattoo on her shoulder looks from a distance as is she has been in an accident.

The lion and the goth face?

Beautiful? Would you even have those images up on the wall in your home? They look cheap and nasty, something you would buy 2 for a fiver at at market stall.
I wouldn't give them wall space in my house.
I certainly wouldn't ink them on my body

Skerry, it's obvious that if your favourite artist had done your favourite piece on my arm instead of a canvas, you would hate it because it's a tattoo. Fine, you are not exactly open-minded. I am not sure that makes you right.

I have never seen a good tattoo.

So if you don't like tattoos you are not open minded. Riiight. They all look absolutely hideous. Rude to say so though.

But these images are hideous.

Willow was trying to show me some "art".

Except it just reinforced my views that tattoo "art" is at best mediocre.

Why would you want to have something so average or worse permanently marked on your body?